Box Score (PDF)

* Mason honored its four seniors, including Otis Livingston II, who gave an emotional farewell in his final home game
* VCU limited Mason to 24.5 percent shooting
* Jordan Miller led the Patriots with his third double-double of his freshman season (11 pts, 10 reb)

FAIRFAX. Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball community paid tribute to one of the finest student-athletes in program history Tuesday night during a Senior Night contest vs. VCU inside EagleBank Arena.
 
Before 6,177 fans, Livingston II gave the crowd an emotional goodbye to cap an outstanding home career for the Green & Gold. Due to an ankle injury, Livingston II played only 25 minutes, but he played his heart out for all 25 during a night of reflection for the spectacular senior.
 
"Otis' impact on this program has been phenomenal and he's not done," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "In any category, I think he'll go down as one of the five best players in school history. The captivating experience he's had with our fan base is not to be understated."

With more of his senior season remaining, Livingston II ranks fourth all time at Mason in scoring (1,833 points), second in assists (486) anf is Mason;s all-time free throw percentage king (.862).

In addition to Livingston II, Mason honored seniors Jaire Grayer, Nick DiClementi and Logan Samuels for their outstanding contributions to the program.
 
On the court, Mason matched VCU physically over the first 18 minutes of action. Mason led at 16-9 and 20-18. But VCU closed the half on a 10-1 run and then used a powerful 27-2 spurt in the second to pull away in Fairfax. The Rams won the contest, 71-36.
 
Mason (16-14, 10-7) shot just 24.5 percent (12-49) for the game, including 18.5 percent in the second half. The Patriots committed 22 turnovers, which VCU turned into a 28-7 edge in points off turnovers for the game.
 
"VCU plays relentlessly defensively and you need to give them a ton of credit," Paulsen said. "Our first 12-14 minutes I thought we played exceptionally well. Defensively, we were really strong. The run they had at the end of the first half was pivotal. In the second half I was disappointed in how we responded to adversity. How you respond is the mark of who you are and I don't think that's the character of our team. I know we'll bounce back."
 
Freshman forward Jordan Miller tallied his third double-double of the season to lead Mason. He scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. Junior Justin Kier added nine points and five rebounds in the contest.
 
 VCU made just four of its first 17 shots, but the Patriots started 2-of-9 as the Rams jumped out to an early 8-5 advantage. Mason used an 11-1 run, highlighted by suffocating defense, to build a 16-9 edge with a little over five minutes to go in the contest. Mason clung to a 2-point edge (20-18) with 1:59 to play in the period, but the Rams closed the stanza on a 10-1 spurt to take a 28-21 edge into the break.
 
Mason cut it to five at 30-25, but from there, the Rams used that massive 27-2 run over the next nine minutes to move ahead by as many as 30 (57-27) with 8:30 left in the contest.
 
The Patriots wrap up the regular season Saturday with a contest at Revolutionary Rival George Washington. Tip-off in Foggy Bottom is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
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